Introduction: Just What is an Animagus Anyways?

To truly begin any journey, we must know our destination. While some enjoy the free nature of a broom trip around the countryside, most have a destination in mind. And with the stronger form of magic one uses, the more important it is to know where you are headed. We have all heard the dangers of splinching, haven't we? Suffice it to say, none of us want to end up with missing or misplaced body parts.

So it it with becoming an animagus. The magic we'll be working with is complex and old. In some ways, it's borderline barbaric. Certainly, it's older then Hogwarts and the Minstry alike. As such, it's temperamental and ignores attempts to fully research it. While we understand the process, there will always be mystery to it.

Why then, do so many wizards and witches attempt such an art then? On this, essays, even whole books have been written. Some have claimed it's a desire to get closer to nature, or closer to a more beastly side of ourselves. Some claim it's a way for wizards and witches to show off. A few even suspect trickery or criminal intent.

There have been tales for all the varying reasons, across not only muggle and wizarding cultures, but across countries. Nearly every part of the world has some form of animagus (or more commonly among muggles, shifter) tales. Some are seen are as divine beings, other as terrible monsters. The rituals to become one also vary, though many of these are mixed with werewolf tales, muddling the instructions. In some, you drink the water from the footprint of your animal. In others, you wear the skin of it. And in a very few, you are simply granted the ability.

(Spoiler alert: It's not that simple and you certainly not just going to wake up with the ability.)

Truthfully, every person's why is different. While I certainly hope you have no ill intentions with your future form, the reality is there's no one reason why. Just as your animal form is unique to you, so is your reason. You could even say it's the internal mark on the soul, just as there's a unique physical form on the skin of the animal.

So what is an animagus then? The simplest answer is, the animal form a witch or wizard may choose to change into. It's somewhat more complex then that however. Not everyone who attends this course will be able to complete it, and some can have all the skill in the world and simply cannot transfigure themselves. The animal form is also not entirely up to chance, though it can potentially be influenced by what you enjoy. The animagus form is also singular. Once your animal form has been found, there's no swapping to another animal. It has become a part of you.

And that is what makes this such a complex form of magic. It's not just transfiguration at a surface level. It's an act of transfiguration that goes all the way down to the soul, not altering the personality or the skill, but influencing it. It balances the human mind with the spirit of the animal, marrying the two together. Some call this an abomination. Some call it the most sacred form of magic.

I call it the hardest work you will potentially ever do with magic. But also a rewarding one.

So to wrap up: An animagus is an animal form a witch or wizard can transform into. There's only one unchanging animal form and it will bear a recognizable unique mark from the physical form of the caster. Simple to say, much harder to do.

So let's get started, aye?

What Makes a Good Animagus?

As I've already mentioned, not everyone can be an animagus. So what traits make for a good animagus?

One of the most essential skills is Transfiguration. You have to have a great deal of talent for the art to be able to carry this off well. While some people have been able to achieve it with average skill level, it's no secret that the stronger you are in this area of magic, the better. After, what no one tells you is that some of those below average who's attempted this, have ended up as a sort of freak show exhibit for muggles. Not exactly the ending we want, now do we? So if you're serious about this, I would start brushing up on the subject and make sure you can perform other complex magic before attempting it. Another skill that is almost essential is wandless magic. While not entirely crucial, it certainly is quite the boon, as it allows more freedom with the ability to transform into the animal. You may find it's one of small set of spells that you can do wandless and wordless, or you may find a great talent in it. But if you cannot do it all, then I'm sorry to say, you are doomed to failure.

Beyond that, you need the twin skills of tenaciousness and patience. It's not just important to be willing to wait out the months it takes to achieve this, it also important to stick with it, during the roughest parts of the training. To add to this, you need strength, but not necessarily the physical kind. A certain sort of mental toughness. Parts of this will dig at your inner being and perhaps expose parts of yourself that you rather remain hidden. At the same time, one has to be a bit open minded. So many will begin the journey, only to fall short because they don't like their animal. Or they feel that some of the steps are a bit...foolish.

​The good news is, almost all of these are things that we can find in ourselves, if only we work for it. Some of us may come with with these traits already inside of us, but if you don't feel you have these qualities, don't despair. It's certainly possible to build these skills and these traits.